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Influence of Endosulfan on Microbial Biomass and Soil Enzymatic Activities of a Tropical Alfisol

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology volume 84, pages 351–356 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

The effect of endosulfan at normal residue level (1 and 10 ppm) and elevated level (100 ppm) on microbial biomass and enzymatic activities of a tropical alfisol was studied. Dehydrogenase, Fluorescein diacetate hydrolase, acid phosphatase, aryl sulphatase activities and microbial biomass of the soil increased by 2.4, 1.7, 1.4, 1.8 and 3.7 times, respectively by the 14th day of incubation with 1 ppm endosulfan, indicating the possible involvement of soil microorganisms and their enzymes in degradation of endosulfan. Soil nitrogenase activity decreased by 8.0 times by the 14th day of application of 1 ppm endosulfan, suggesting that endosulfan or its metabolites may pose toxicological threat to nitrogen fixers in soil.

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Acknowledgments

The first author gratefully acknowledges the University Grants Commission for providing fellowship during the tenure of the research work at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute.

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Affiliations

  1. Food and Agricultural Department, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, 110002, India

    S. Surya Kalyani

  2. Department of Biotechnology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, 136119, India

    Jitender Sharma

  3. Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Prem Dureja

  4. Division of Microbiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Surender Singh &  Lata

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  1. S. Surya Kalyani
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  2. Jitender Sharma
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  3. Prem Dureja
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  4. Surender Singh
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  5. Lata
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Correspondence to Jitender Sharma.

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Surya Kalyani, S., Sharma, J., Dureja, P. et al. Influence of Endosulfan on Microbial Biomass and Soil Enzymatic Activities of a Tropical Alfisol. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 84, 351–356 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-010-9943-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-010-9943-x

Keywords

  • Endosulfan
  • Tropical alfisol
  • Soil enzymes
  • Microbial biomass carbon